Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon

Biblical tradition presents Nebuchadnezzar, destroyer of Jerusalem, as one of the most oppressive and despotic rulers of the ancient world, and his royal city Babylon as a symbol of decadence and depravity. Archaeological investigations and the written records of Nebuchadnezzar's own day provide a dramatic contrast to this picture. Ancient Greek and Roman descriptions of Babylon further contribute to our understanding of one of the greatest cities of the ancient world. All these sources will be combined in an assessment of what ancient Babylon and its 'infamous' king were really like.

Prof. Bryce's talk is followed by a report presented by the 2014 Betty Fletcher Memorial Travelling Scholarship winner, Johanna Qualmann.